Humanitext Reader

Cicero · Letters to Friends §15.7.1

Congratulations to Marcellus and an Appeal for Support

Passage 376 of 413 · Latin

Summary

Cicero warmly congratulates the recipient on his election as consul, recalls the numerous favors received from him and his parents, declares his deep devotion to their family, and requests his protection during his absence.

§15.7.1maxima sum laetitia adfectus, cum audivi consulem te factum esse, eumque honorem tibi deos fortunare volo atque a te pro tua parentisque tui dignitate administrari.
was filled with the greatest joy when I heard that you had been elected consul, and I pray that the gods may prosper this honor for you, and that it may be administered by you in a manner worthy of your own dignity and that of your father.
nam cum te semper amavi dilexique, tum mei amantissimum cognovi in omni varietate rerum mearum, tum patris tui pluribus beneficiis vel defensus tristibus temporibus vel ornatus secundis et sum totus vester et esse debeo, cum praesertim matris tuae, gravissimae atque optimae feminae, maiora erga salutem dignitatemque meam studia quam erant a muliere postulanda perspexerim.
For since I have always loved and cherished you, and have found you most affectionate toward me in all the vicissitudes of my fortunes, and have been either defended in sad times or adorned in prosperous ones by the many benefits of your father, I am entirely yours and ought to be—especially since I have perceived in your mother, a most grave and excellent woman, greater zeal for my safety and dignity than was to be demanded from a woman.
quapropter a te peto in maiorem modum ut me absentem diligas atque defendas.
Therefore, I beg of you in the highest degree that you love and defend me in my absence.

Notes

  1. §15.7.1eumque honorem tibi deos fortunare volo atque a te pro tua parentisque tui dignitate administrari — The verb volo governs two accusative-with-infinitve clauses of different structures. The first, deos fortunare eum honorem tibi, is active (subject accusative: deos, object: eum honorem), while the second, [eum honorem] ... administrari, is passive (subject accusative: eum honorem, agent: a te). This parallel of active and passive infinitives contrasts divine blessing with human administration.
  2. §15.7.1cum te semper amavi dilexique, tum mei amantissimum cognovi... tum patris tui... et sum totus vester — The correlative construction cum... tum... tum... is used hierarchically to list multiple bonds between Cicero and the recipient's family. Together they form a causal ground introduced by nam, leading to the main clause et sum totus vester et esse debeo. In the third clause introduced by tum, an auxiliary verb like sum (or fui) is omitted, forming a passive construction with the perfect participles defensus and ornatus.
  3. §15.7.1maiora erga salutem dignitatemque meam studia quam erant a muliere postulanda — The gerundive postulanda (agreeing with the neuter plural studia omitted in the quam clause) expresses obligation or propriety ('ought to be demanded'). The agent is expressed by a muliere (ab + ablative) instead of the usual dative of agent, which is common to emphasize the source or agent of the action.

Cite this passage

Cicero, Letters to Friends §15.7.1. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi0474.phi056.humanitext-lat1:15.7.1

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